Siheyuan: A warm home with wife and children

But Grandma said there was no more candy, so why is there still some in the cupboard?

"Grandma, Xiaodang wants to eat candy too."

Little Dang, who was playing by the stove, came over when she heard the noise; she also wanted some candy.

I just came back with some sunflower seeds and milk candy, but Grandma took them all away.

They left her four sunflower seeds, which fell to the ground and got dirty when Banggeng snatched them from her hand.

Even so, Xiao Dang ate with great relish.

However, seeing her brother eating candy reminded her of the taste of milk candy.

If Aunt Yang hadn't peeled it and put it in her mouth, she wouldn't have been able to taste the milk candy.

"No, no, all you do is eat all day long. Didn't that damned Yang Jianguo give you some at noon?"

"I'll put it in your mouth again. If you want to eat it, go find him."

With a dismissive wave, Jia Zhangshi sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) holding her eldest grandson, making him laugh.

With tears in her eyes, Xiao Dang sniffled.

Feeling wronged, she returned to the stove, squatted on the ground, and silently shed tears.

Mom says Grandma is the closest person to her, but why does she always look down on her?

Xiao Dang couldn't understand what she had done wrong.

How could she possibly understand at that moment that the mistakes she had made were predetermined from birth?

If there truly is a mistake, it must be called a 'birth error'.

"Mom, Jianguo got married?" Qin Huairu asked as soon as she lifted the curtain.

When she came back, she passed by the front yard and the third aunt casually remarked something.

But isn't this too fast?

Jia Zhangshi, who was happily holding her grandson, suddenly frowned: "What, you're still thinking about that scoundrel?"

"Mom, look at what you're saying, I was just asking casually."

Qin Huairu said with a bitter face, "Besides, the children are still here, you..."

"What's wrong with me?"

Upon hearing that she still dared to argue with her, Madam Jia was furious.

He jumped off the kang (a heated brick bed) with his grandson in his arms and shouted, "Yang Jianguo is allowed to do it, but I'm not allowed to say anything?"

"He's a complete scoundrel. He eats and drinks well every day, but doesn't know how to help the orphans and widows in the orphanage."

"This person's heart is black."

"I've figured it out now. There's no good person in this courtyard, none of them are good people."

As she got more and more excited, she offended the entire courtyard with just one word.

Qin Huairu quickly advised, "Mom, keep your voice down, or someone will hear you."

"So what if I heard it? So what if I heard it?"

Jia Zhangshi's voice grew louder and louder as she continued her incessant cursing.

The man sitting on the kang (heated brick bed) was thoroughly enjoying the view, his eyes sparkling.

Little Dang in the kitchen was scared.

Grandma's already unkind face was now terrifyingly distorted.

He covered his ears and ran out of the house, glancing at the house of Sha Zhu across the street.

Xiao Dang turned and ran towards Yang Jian's house, calling out, "Uncle Yang, Uncle Yang..."

Li Ying, who had just cracked eggs and was preparing to make tomato sauce, overheard this: "Is that Xiao Dang kid?"

Yang Jianguo, who was lying on the kang, sat up, put on his shoes and said, "Okay, you're busy, I'll go take a look."

He opened the door, and the girl, with tears streaming down her face and her hands covering her ears, rushed over and hugged his legs.

"Uncle Yang, Xiao Dang is scared, Grandma... is frightening."

Listening to the old woman's curses, Yang Jianguo sighed and looked down at Xiao Dang.

"You stay here and go back later."

"Yes, thank you, Uncle Yang." Xiao Dang nodded and put his hands down.

He looked around, then stuck his butt out and sat on a small stool against the wall by the door.

Chapter Thirty-Five: Qin Huai Ru Establishes a Character, Sha Zhu Eats Brains Again

Stand with your legs together and place your hands on them.

Little Dang, sit still.

Seeing the child's little gestures, Li Ying, who was busy at work, felt her heart melt.

"Oh, my little one is so good."

He took out the candy that Yang Jianguo had given him earlier from his pocket, unwrapped it, and put it to Xiao Dang's mouth.

"Come on, Auntie will give you candy."

Little Dang tilted her head back and said sweetly, "Thank you, Auntie."

Then he opened his mouth and put the candy in his mouth, his eyes crinkling with happiness.

Sitting on a small stool, he shook his head and swayed his body, unable to stop being happy.

Li Ying was also happy, although she felt sorry for Tang.

She couldn't bear to eat the food that Yang Jianguo gave her.

We have plenty of sugar at home, but we're used to living frugally.

We need to save the candy to entertain guests, for the banquet tomorrow, and for visiting my parents' home.

Let's save some money so we don't run out and have to spend more.

However, seeing Xiao Dang's bright smile, that little bit of heartache passed.

I'm an adult, it's not a big deal if I eat one less bite.

This child is so endearing!

The Jia family, Jia Zhangshi's foul mouth never stopped babbling.

The more Qin Huai tried to persuade her, the louder she became.

Finally, Qin Huairu stopped caring and stepped out of the room, lifting the curtain.

She squatted by the door, hugging her knees and sobbing.

Inside Shazhu's house, he watched Qin Huairu squatting by the door, crying with a wronged expression.

Sha Zhu sighed, unable to bear it.

But as soon as he thought about going out, the story Yang Jianguo had told him came to mind.

One slap. Why should I use my money to support your wife?

My face is burning, it hurts so much!

With a stomp of his foot, Sha Zhu slammed the door shut, saying, "Never mind."

He thought that out of sight, out of mind, or else Widow Qin would come to him crying and complaining.

To Sha Zhu's surprise, Widow Qin didn't come; instead, an old man did.

No matter when, life is never easy for a widow.

These days are especially difficult.

Some widows, unable to make ends meet, give their children away.

There are also those who flirt around all day, just to get a full meal.

There are also those who want to support themselves and grit their teeth to move forward.

Most of these people have a family member who helps them out.

Or perhaps her in-laws are both there, and she lives alone.

Or perhaps she cruelly abandoned her burdens and ran away with only her son.

Even so—it's still upsetting!

Not to mention that Qin Huairu also had a mother-in-law and three children to support her, making her a pretty widow.

It doesn't matter whether you have a fiery temper or a gentle nature.

These days, widows want to survive, to live comfortably, and not go hungry.

You need to have the skills and cunning to do that.

Qin Huairu is second to none in this regard; in fact, she is an absolute master.

Even when I'm wronged, I don't make a fuss. I just squat down by the door, bury my face in my knees, and cry 'quietly'.

She neither contradicted her mother-in-law nor failed to be filial.

She doesn't complain or gossip to anyone; she's virtuous and doesn't nag.

Instead of making a scene and stirring up trouble, they should behave themselves.

The image of this wronged, weak, virtuous, and filial young widow is immediately established.

Can anyone say that Qin Huairu is not good?

No!

As for how to gain sympathy and then profit from it, isn't there our moral exemplar—Yi Zhonghai!

"Silly Zhu, what's wrong with you?"

As soon as I pushed open the door, an old man blurted out something.

Sha Zhu was completely bewildered. "What happened to me? What mistake did I make?"

You wouldn't know that...

Judging from Yi Zhonghai's demeanor, it must be assumed that Sha Zhu has committed some fundamental error.

At the very least, he should be charged with hooliganism.

"Widow Qin is so aggrieved, and you don't even ask how the old man taught you?"

"One should be kind and know how to look after each other."

"Neighbors should lend a helping hand to each other when someone is in trouble."

"If you ask for help today, what will he do if you're in trouble tomorrow?"

"It is precisely when the country is in trouble that we need to unite."

"We can only live well if we help each other out. If everyone only cares about themselves, no one will be well..."

Originally, Sha Zhu, who was about to be persuaded by Yi Zhonghai, suddenly became clever.

He had genuine respect for the old man.

Why?

His father ran away with the White Widow, leaving behind his brother and sister. It was an old man who comforted the two siblings.

An older woman even cooked for them so they wouldn't go hungry.

Later, they took the train to look for him, but he was turned away before he could even enter the house.

Another old man was busy taking care of them, helping them manage the household, looking after them, and encouraging them to live a good life together.

No matter what, he's still my father. He's just confused for a moment, but he'll definitely come back after he's figured things out in a few years.

In the days that followed, he would often deliver food and vegetables to the two siblings.